Buffing machine



ec. w, 1939. G. c. BLAKE Er AL 2,184,175

BUFFING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 z i 28 s El@ a 1 35. 24, 26 o@ @m z5 O "25 l' 1,' I; i 59 g i I f Il@ I @l :40 I 140! I@ i I @i l 1 .l I

l l i l i n s l (28a s i WW l I I' f 55 33 g g' 54a vill/lll.

Z; 145 lNvENToRs J EEUREE l: BLAKE el PEREIVAI. I: EMITH.

BY mr@ ATTORNEYS Dec., w, w39. G. c. BLAKE Er A1.

BUFFING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm.. Nm

mvENToRs GEUREE I: BLAKE EL FII-:RENAL l: SMITH uM//:Am 71,7% ATTORNEYS @Bm lg, H939. G, Q BLAKE Er M. Z4J75 BUFFING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1937 s sheets-smet 4 Mza 141 INVENTORS EEDRGE [.ELAKE BY FERVAL [SMITH Mu/9M ma ATTORNEYS il* W9 i3@ G. c. BLAKE ET AL 184175 BUFFING MACHINE Filed Deo. 6, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS BY FEEIVAL [.SIVIITH Fig /57' y GEDRGE LELAKE el 2%@ ATTORNEYS BUFFING MACHINE Filed Dec. 6, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS GEDREE C EJLAKE ek BY PERUVAI. c SMITH d@ ATToRNEYs Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE BUFFING MACHINE George C. Blake, Syracuse,

N. Y., and Percival ration of Delaware Application December 6, 1937, Serial No. 178,258

24 Claims.

This invention relates to a buiing machine for polishing curved objects such as hub caps for the wheels of automotive vehicles. More particularly the invention relates to polishing machines in which a rotating buliing wheel is caused to engage the surface of a rotating work piece, the axis of which is caused to oscillate in order to bring all parts of the surfaces of the work piece into engagement with the buiing wheel.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide for the operation of such machines in groups or gangs in a manner such that a common shaft can be provided for trans-rotary motion to a plurality of workholders, each of which can be oscillated while it is rotating. In this connection, it is a further object to provide a common cam device for electing the oscillation of the plurality of workholders while they are being rotated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and conveniently operable latching device for maintaining a buffing wheel in engagement with a work piece.

Further objects are to provide a simple and easily operated device for clamping the work piece upon the workholder while permitting it to be rotated and oscillated. In this connection, it is a further object to provide a work securing means which is readily adapted to cooperate with work pieces and workholders of various sizes within certain limits.

It will be understood that the present invention aims to make it possible for one operator to attend to at least two groups or gangs of buiiing machines. While one gang of buing machines is in operation, the operator may readily unload and reload the workholders of another gang of machines.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a polishing unit embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View partly in section, the section being taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation partly in section, this View being taken generally in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn to a larger scale than the preceding iigures and taken on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a. is fragmentary front elevation of some of the parts shown in Fig, 4. This view is partly in section, the section being taken on the line lla-4 0, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of one of the work clamps. It is drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1 and is taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but is partly in section, this section being taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken chiefly on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5. One of the work retaining wheels, indicated as made of rubber in this View, is shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the work clamp looking in the direction of arrow 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. '1.

Referring to Fig. l numeral designates one of a plurality of vertical frames which are tied together by means of horizontal supports or tables 2l and 22. The table 2l supports a plurality of bearing assemblies 23 which are arranged in pairs and which carry the antiiriction bearings 24 for a shaft 25. Since the buffmg apparatus may consist of several units such as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, it will be understood that the shaft 25 may extend from one group of bearing assemblies 23 to another such group of bearing assemblies. The shaft may be continuous or in sections connected together by suitable couplings. The tables 2| and 22 will preferably be in sections bolted together.

Each bearing assembly 23 includes a cylindrical sleeve 26 upon which is journaled an arm 21, the

two sleeves 26 of each unit provides supports for arms 21 of a buing wheel frame. These arms are connected in the rear by a yoke 23, intermediately by cross bars 28a and at the front by a cross plate 29 and a rod Sil. Near the front the arms 21 are shaped so as to provide for the reception of antifriction bearings 3l which are removably held in place by bearing caps 32 shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The bearings 3| support a shaft 33 carrying bufng wheels 34.

The shaft 25 is driven by a suitable electric motor not shown, through a belt, not shown, which engages a pulley 35 attached to the left end of shaft 25. Shaft 25 carries a pulley 36 connected by a belt 31 with a pulley 3B connected with shaft 33, Belt 31 is maintained in a taut condition by a belt tightener wheel 39 having a bearing in a frame 40, the upper end of which is provided with a yoke 4I attached to a threaded stem or rod 42. The belt 31 is maintained taut by the weight of members 39, 40, 4| and 42, the effect of this weight upon the belt 31 being adjusted by the turning of a nut 43 threaded on the rod 42. The weight of the bung wheels and their supporting shaft and frame is counterbalanced by a suitable weight, not shown. It is to be understood however that thisweight is connected with a cable 50, a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 1. One end of the cable is attached to a iXed support and the cable passes around a pulley 5| journaled in a bracket 52 which is attached to the support 44 which carries the belt tightener. The weight is so arranged and connected with the cable 50 as to cause the cable to be pulled upwardly as indicated by the arrowhead 53 in Fig. l. The mass of the weight is such as to urge the frame arm 21 upwardly or in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

Each bufng machine unit comprises two buf- Vng wheels 34 which simultaneously operate upon work pieces A as shown in Fig. 3. Each work piece A rests upon a workholder block which is supported for rotation and oscillation by a cradle 6 I. Cradle 6| is secured to pivot pins 62 and 63 which rock in bearing brackets 64 and 65 respectively formed integral with the table 22. Cradle 6| carries a bearing 66 having a central bore 61 for receiving the hub 68 of the work support 60. In this way the bearing 66 provides a cylindrical `journal for the workholder 60. The bearing 66 has a plane surface 69 which receives a step or thrust bearing i9 which provides vertical support for the work holder block 60.

The block 60 is provided with a center cylindrical bore 'il which slidab-ly receives a short shaft '|2 to which is attached a key 'I3 received by a groove 14 provided by the block 60 and opening from the center bore thereof. In this way the block 60 can be readily detached from the shaft l2 and a different block 60 substituted therefor, the difference being in the shape and size of the work-supporting surface of the block. Each block 60 may carry its own thrust bearing I0 so that the bearing 'l0 remains with the block 60 as one block is removed from the cradle bearing 66 and another substituted.

The short shaft 'i2 is connected by a universal joint with a shaft 3|. The universal joint 80 comprises arms 82 integral with shaft 'i2 and connected by a cross pin 03 with a cross pin 84 carried by arms 05 integral with a hub 86 pinned to the shaft 8|. The shaft 8| and the hub 86 are journaled in a roller bearing 8l located within a hollow boss 80 provided by the table 22. The universal joint pin 83 is located at its axis at right angles to and intersecting the axis of pin 34. The axis of pin 84 rotates in a plane which includes the axes of the cradle pivot pins 62 and 63. Thus, the cradle 6| is pivoted coaxially with the universal joint 30.

Shaft 8| carries a bevel gear 90 which, as shown in Fig. 4, meshes with a bevel gear 9| carried by a shaft 92 rotatably supported by the bearing brackets 93 and 94 (see Fig. 3) which are suspended from the table 22.

As shown in Fig. 1, shaft 92 carries a sprocket gear 95 which meshes with a sprocket chain 96, meshing with a sprocket gear 91 provided by gear reduction unit 93 which is driven by a pulley 99. Pulley 99 receives a belt |00 which is received by driving pulley 0| connected with shaft 25 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shaft 25 is rotated preferably at 1800 R. P. M., and the buffing wheel shaft is preferably driven at that speed. The reduction gear unit 98 provides an eighty to one gear reduction and the shaft 92 is caused to rotate at 22.5 R. P. M. Hence, the work piece A rotates relatively slowly while the bufng wheels rotate at relatively high speed.

The work supports 60 of the bufng units are caused to oscillate by common mechanism which comprises the following elements which will now be described: Shaft 92 drives a worm ||0 which meshes with a worm wheel carried by shaft ||2 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 4a. Shaft ||2 is supported within a gear case ||5, the side walls of which carries antifriction bearings 3 and H4. Outside the case |I5 the shaft I2 carries a cam |6 which is in the form of a disc located eccentrically on the shaft 2. The eccentric disc or cam I I6 engages a roller I supported by a lever 8 pivoted on a stud ||9 carried by the gear box I I5. Lever ||8 is connected by links |20 with a bar I2! which is connected together with a plurality of levers |22, there being one lever |22 associated with each of the work holders. Each lever |22 is pivotally supported'by the shaft 62 and is connected with the cradle 6| by screw |23. Hence, the single cam ||6 cooperating with roller lever ||8, links |20 and bar |2I, effects the rocking of a plurality of cradles simultaneously. The cam or eccentric disc ||6 urges the bar |2| toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, said bar being urged toward the left by a weight |30 attached to a cable |3| passing around a lguide wheel |32 and anchored at |33 to the bar |2I.

These buiiing wheel units may be conveniently grouped together in gangs of three units thus providing siX buing wheels and six work supports in each gang. A single operator may control the operation of two such gangs. While one gang of bufng machines operates upon six work pieces at the same time, the operator may, with ygreat facility, stop the other gang of machines and unload and reload and start again.

Each pair of buiiing wheels may be conveniently latched in position by an adjustable latching device which will now be described: One element of the latching device is a latch rod |40 of hardened metal carried by bracket |4| attached to the cross plate 29 which connects the free ends of the bufl'lng wheel frame arms 21. The other element of the latch is the latch lever |42 pivotally mounted upon a pin |43 carried by a bracket |44 and provided with a handle |45. The lever |42 is urged in a clockwise direction in Fig. 4 by spring |46 interposed between the lever |42 and the bracket |44. Clockwise rotation of the lever |42 is limited owing to the fact that it has a shoulder |41 cooperating with a lug |48 provided by a lever |49 pivoted at |50 upon the bracket |44. To release the buiiing wheels 34 from the work pieces A, the operator pulls the lever handle |45 down to cause the latch |42 to release the bar |40. The bung wheel frame 2'! then swings upwardly due to the counterbalance which effects an upward pull on the cable 50 shown in Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrowhead 53. To bring the buing wheels into engagement with the work, the operator pulls down on the handle bar 30 which causes the latch bar |40 to engage the inclined surface |42a of the latch |42, thereby camming it outwardly toward the left in Fig. 4 so as to permit the bar |40 to pass below the nose of the latch, whereupon the latch is urged by the spring |46 into the latching position shown in Fig. 4.

screw |53 lto the bracket |94 andwhich is received by a groove |54 provided by the screw |5i'. Since the -nut 18|- cannot move vertically when thailand wheeel |60 is turned and,sinceI the screw |51 cannot turn, saidscrew ltmust move vertically. Thus, by turning Athe hand wheel 20-r itil,`` the bracket |44 may beraised or lowered to suit the requirements of the vmachine and -to adjust thebuing wheels 34 tothe work pieces A. Asthe bufling wheels wear away, they are still serviceable until a certain minimumfdiarneter is zii-"reached It is apparent from Figs. 3 and 4 that the' lowering ofthe latch |42 is limited by the bracket |44 striking the `upper surface ofthe bracket |64. The necessity for lowering the bracket |44 until it engages the bracket |64 would 3(1"f'lbel occasioned only by the wearing away of the buffing wheels 34 to such a distance that` very little yoaf the bufling cloth extending beyond the periphery of the clamping disc 34a as shown in Fig. 2. To prevent lowering the 'buing wheel sifframe still lower thus causing the buiiing wheel clamping disc to engage the work and spoil it, a stop device is provided. lThis stop device is provided by the lever |49 as shown in Fig.v 4, which is engaged by the belt 31 which passes around Myrthe pulley 98. As the frame is pushed downwardly, the belt engages-the lever B49 and pushes it downwardly against the bracketl |441, at the same time the latch |42 is caused to swing counterclockwise due Yto `the coaction of the lug v |48 of lpetitie lever 449 with the shoulder` |41 of thelever |42. Therefore, the latch is so moved that it will not hold the latch bar |48 in thisrposition l of the frame 21;v The failure of the latch mechanism-to maintain the bufling wheel frame in 50-such position as to cause the bufng-wheels to engage the work while the buffmg wheelliclarnp ing discs are dangerously close to-the-work,-in dicates to the operator `that it-is time to renew the buffing wheel. The means for retaining work pieces upon the-` work supports will now be described with refer-` ence to Figs; 5 to 9 and Fig. l: Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 in whicha work piece A is shown mounted upon a work 'supporting block `f`"68, it will be seen that a pair of soft rubberirollers |18 are caused to move into position shown at |18al by dot-and-dash lines. These rollers being rotatable and being supported upon a bracket 288 which'is attached to the cradle 9|, the work piece A is retained upon its support 6|) while being rotated and oscllated. Each roller |18 is fastened to a hub |1| and is clamped against a flange |12 of the hubby nut |13 threaded upon the hub. The hub |1| is journalled by lan antifriction bearing |14 upon a stub shaft |15 having a threaded shank 118 passing through an arm |1117 and secured thereto by nut H8. As the roller |18 receives an upward thrust when in work engaging position, the flange |12 is backed *15H-iup by i a ball-thrustbearmg |19 retained rby -a screw threaded intothev stub shaft |15. The two arms |110. and |1111l are clamped together inl` a desired position of adjustment bya clamp screw |94 having a shank which passes through a plane i hole in the upper arm |11bl inFig. 9 andfis "il threadedly engaged bythe lower arm which is numbered-`i11a-- By unscrewing the screw |94 from-the arm Illa, the two arms |11a' and |1117 may be located in the desired angular relation with 4'respect to the screw |94 in order to accomrnodate-the rollers |18@ and |101)y to the workpiece. After this adjustment has been made, 'the screw |94 is tightened to clamp the two arms |11a andl |1111 together. The screw |94 serves -to pivotally support botharms |11a and |110 upon a bracket 284, the right end of which is horizontally notched to provide lugs or ears |8| and |82. As viewed in Fig. 9 the left hand earM |8| has a running fit with the head of the screw. |94 and the screw |94 has a reduced shank portion I94a t which has a running nt in a plain hole'provided by the right hand ear H132.` Thus-the screw |94 provides a pivot for the arms |11a and |11b upon the bracket 284. I

The bracket 294 is adjustable horizontally by Q" providing it with clamping arms |83 and |84 which are parallel and which slide in parallel grooves |85 and 186 respectively provided by a sleeve |81 as shown in'Figs. 5 and 6. A screw |88 passing through a plain hole in 'the arm |84 39* and threadedly engaging the arm |83 as shown in Figs. 5 and 8 clampsthe bracket 284 in adjusted position horizontally with-respect to the sleeve |81.

The sleeve |81 is adjustable vertically upon a rod Ell,v the sleeve 181 being split to provide clamp arms i9| and |92. Screw |93 passes througha plain hole in the clamp armv |92 and is threaded into a hole tapped `into the clamp arm |9I. By loosening the screw l|93the sleeve |81 may be adjusted vertically and then clamped into position von the rodv l9|i by tightening the-screw |93.

AThe rod |99 is received by a vertical bore |95 provided by a block |96 and is secured therein by a pin |91. The block is supported for horizontal movement only upon horizontal guide bars |98 and |99 which extend from a bracket 299`attached by screws 29| to the cradle 6|, the block |96 being retained into position by a plate 282 attached by screws 283 to the block |96. The block |96 and plate 282 provide jointly an internal cylindrical bore 295 which provides a journal supporting a rotatable sleeve 296 which rotates around a non-rotatable screw 281 having its right en'd, as shown in Fig. '7, provided with a nonthreaded portion 283 received by an'apertured lug 289 provided by the bracket 298-. A pin 2I9 passes through the lug 289 and the non-threaded end 298 of the screw 291 to secure the screw to the bracket 2Gb. The sleeve 286, being supported by the block 96 and plate 282 servesalso to support the screw 281. The sleeve 206 is provided at its left end with a Bange 2li from which extend rods 2|2 to facilitate turning the sleeve 286. The sleeve 298 is prevented from being removed from the screw 281 by a washer 2|3 attached by screw l2|4 to the screw 201. The thread of screw 291 is not a continuous thread, but every convolution is interrupted by notch 291e thus providing in effect a longitudinal groove along the upper side of the screw 291; This groove provided by the horizontally alignednotches 281e intercepts each convolution of the thread of the screw 281. Ascrew `2 I9 is threaded'throughsleeve "206 751` mit and is secured in adjusted position by a nut 2| 1. Screw 2|6 has a plain cylindrical end 2|5 less in diameter than the width of notches 2010.. This screw end 2|5 is intendedto cooperate with a certain convolution of the screw threads 201, the particular convolution depending on how far the work retaining rollers must be pushed before they engage the work piece A. This distance, of course, depends on the size of the work piece. As stated before, the machine is adapted to take various sizes and shapes of work pieces and work holders; but the same work securing device is used with various work holders.

To release the rollers |10 from work retaining position as shown in Fig. 1 or as shown with |10a in Fig. 7, the opeiator turns the sleeve 206 in such position that the screw end 2|5 will be in alignment with the thread notches 201a, thereby permitting the sleeve G to be moved toward the left along the screw 201 without the threads thereof being engaged by screw end 2 5. In order to bring the screw end 2|5 into alignment with the thread notches 201er, the sleeve 206 is turned in such direction as to cause a pin 220 carried thereby toy be brought into substantially vertical position on the right hand side of the pin |91 which extends from the block |96 (right hand as viewed from the front of the machine).

l After a new work piece has been placed upon the block 60, the sleeve 206 is pushed away from the operator so as to bring the rubber rollers |10 into engagement with the work piece. The rollers are pressed gently against the work piece, just sufficiently to bring the screw end 2|5 linto one of the spiral grooves between adjacent convolutions o-f the threads of the screw 201. Then the sleeve 206 is turned clockwise as viewed from the front of the machine so as to cause the sleeve 206 to be advanced by the screw thread camming action of screw end 2| 5 along the screw 201, thereby causing the soft rubber rollers |10 to effect a firm but yielding clamping pressure upon the work piece A to hold it in position upon the work holder 60. The sleeve 206 may be turned by the handle rods 2|2 sufliciently to cause the pin 220 to engage the left hand side 0f the pin |91 (left hand as viewed from the front of the machine). The engagement of the pin 220 with the left hand side of the pin |91 prevents turning the sleeve into such position as to cause the screw end 2| 5 to be aligned with the thread notches 201a.

l The work retaining device is provided with all of the adjustments which are necessary to accommodate it to various sizes and pieces of work within reasonable limits. The screw |94 provides means for securing the rollers |10 in the desired spaced relation. The screw |88 cooperating with the split bracket 204 provides for the horizontal adjustment of the roller with respect to the sleeve |96. The screw |93 and the split bracket |81 provide for the vertical adjustment of the rollers with respect to the block |96. Each convolution of the thread of the screw 201 provides in cooperation with the screw end 2|5 a means for camming the block |96, and hence the rollers |10, into a work clamping position. Obviously, any one of the several of the interrupted thread portions of the screw 201 may be selected as the camming means depending on the diameter of the work piece. Quite obviously, the screw 201 could be made longer than shown in the drawings if it were necessary to accommodate the work clamping means to a larger number of positions in `which the rollers |10 could be clamped in engagement with the work.

The labor required to unload and reload the work holders of a gang of buiiing units disclosed herein has been greatly facilitated by providing a simple and conveniently operated device for releasing the bufling wheels and the work retaining means. All that is required is that the operator turn off the supply of currentl to the motor which operates the gang of bufng wheel units. This is done in the usual way by pressing a button which controls the starting of the motor. 'I'hen the operator presses on the lever handles |45 to permit the release of all of the buing wheel frames. Then he releases all of the clamping sleeves 206 by turning the handle rods 2 I2 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front. The sleeves 206 automatically move away from clamping position due to the expansion of the rubber rollers |10. After replacing the polished work pieces with u npolished ones, the operatorl reverses the manipulations by pushing in the sleeves 206 untilthe rollers |10 lightly engage the work pieces. Then he turns the handle rods 2|2 clockwise as far as they will go. Then the operator starts the motor to effect rotation of the buing wheels and work pieces, and pulls down on the handle bars to bring the buiing wheels into engagement with the work pieces. While these manipulations are taking place, another gang of buflng wheels under the care of the operator is doing its work. The operator obviously may proceed from one gang of wheels to l the other and then back again.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form,.

it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Bufling equipment comprising a combination, a main drive shaft, a bufng wheel frame,

pivotedly supported coaxially of the drive shaft, a buffing, wheel shaft mounted upon the frame parallel to the drive shaft and carrying a plurality of buiiing wheels, means for transmitting motion from the main drive shaft to the builng wheel shaft, a work holder associated with each bufling wheel, means for normally-holding the wheels from the work holders, releasable means for holding the wheels into engagement with the work, adevice for rotatably supporting each work holder, shafts extending transversely to the buffing wheel shaft each for rotating a work holder, a common shaft parallel to the builng wheel shaft for driving all of thework holder shafts, means for oscillatably supporting each of the work holder supporting devices, a common mechanism operated bythe work holder common drive shaft for oscillating all of the work holder supporting devices While the work holdersv are rotating, means for ltransmitting motion from the main drive shaft to said work holder common drive shaft, and means for automatically rendermeans operable to hold the bui'lng wheels intol engagement with the work, a device for rotatably supporting each work holder, means for oscillatably supported each work holder supporting device, a shaft for rotating each work holder, a common shaft for driving all of the work holder shafts, a common mechanism operated by the work holder driving shaft for oscillating all of the Work holder supporting devices while said devices are rotated, and means for automatically rendering the releasable means inoperative when the buing wheels are worn down to a certain diameter.

3. Builing equipment comprising in combination, a plurality of coaxially supported rotatable buing wheels, a work holder associated with each buing wheel, means for normally holding the buing wheels from the work holders, latch means operable to hold the bun-lng wheels into engagement with the work, a device for rotatably supporting each work holder, means for oscillatably supporting each work holder supporting device, means ior rotating the work holders, a common mechanism operated by the work holder rotating means for oscillating all of the work holder supporting devices when said devices are rotated and means for rendering the latching means inoperative when the buihng wheel has been worn down sufiiciently.

4. Bufng equipment comprising in combination, a plurality of coaxially supported bufn wheels, a work holder associated with each buiing wheel, means for normally holding the bufiing wheels from the work holders, latch means operable to hold the bufng wheels into engagement with the work, a device for rotatably supporting each Work holder, means for oscillatably supporting each work holder supporting device, means for rotating the work holders, an oscillating lever actuated by the work holder rotating means, a common mechanism associated with the oscillating lever and with each of the wort; holders whereby a swinging movement is imparted simultaneously to all of the work holders when said work holders are rotated; and means for automatically releasing the holding means when the buing wheel is Worn down a predetermined amount.

5. Bufng equipment comprising in combination, a plurality of coaxially supported buiiing wheels, a work holder associated with each bufing wheel, means for normally holding the buing Wheels from the work holders, latch means operable to hold the buing Wheels intoy engagement with the work, a device for rotatably supporting each work holder, means for oscillatably supporting each work holder supporting device, means for rotating the work holders, an osciilating lever actuated by the work holder rotating means, an arm for oscillating each work holder supporting device, a bar connected with the oscillating lever and each of said arms whereby the work holders are oscillated simultaneously during rotation of the work holders and means for rendering the latch means ineffective when the buing wheel is worn down a certain amount.

6. Builng equipment comprising in combination a plurality of coaxially supported buimg Wheels, a work holder associated with each buffi-ng wheel, means for normally holding the buing wheels from the work holders, latch means operable to hold the bufng wheels into engagement with the work, a device for rotatably supporting each workholder, means for oscillatably supporting each work holder supporting device, a shaft for rotating each work holder, a common shaft for driving all of the work holder shafts, an oscillating lever actuated by the work holder vwork holder common drive shaft, a common mechanism associated with the oscillating lever and with each of the work holders whereby swinging movement is imparted simultaneously to all of the work holders during rotation of the work holders and means for rendering the latch means inoperative after the bumng wheel is worn down to a pre-'- determined diameter.

7. Buiiing equipment comprising in combination a plurality ci coaxially supported buing wheels, a work holder associated with each bufng wheel, a device for rotatably supporting each work holder, means for oscillatably supporting each work holder supporting device, a shaft supported adjacent each work holder, a universal joint connecting a common shaft for .driving all of the stud shafts, an oscillating lever actuated `by the wort. holder common drive shaft, an armxior oscillating each work holder supporting device, and a bar extending parallel to the work holder common driving shaft and connected with the oscillating lever and each of said arms whereby the work holders are oscillated simultaneously.

8. Builng equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable builng wheel, a work holder associated with the bufling wheel, means for holding the wheel against the work, a cradle for rotatably supporting the work holder, means for pivotedly supporting the cradle for oscillating about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the work holder, means for oscillating the cradle, means for rotating the work holder while providing for oscillation thereof, said work holder rotating means including a shaft section having a spline connection with the work holder whereby the work holder may be easilyv removed from its cradle and means for automatically rendering the holding means inefiective when the bufng wheel is below a predetermined diameter.

9. Builing equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable bufling wheel, a workholder associated with the buing wheel, means for holding the buing wheel against the work holder, a cradle for rotatably supporting the work holder, means for pivotally supporting the cradle for oscillation about an axis transverse t the axis of rotation of the work holder, means for oscillating the Work holder cradle, and a sectional shaft for rotating the work holder, said sectional. shaft including a non-oscillatable section, an oscillatable section having a spline connection with the work holder to facilitate removal of the latter from its cradle sal joint connecting the two sections and located coaXially with respect to the axis of the oscillation of the work holder cradle. i

l0. Buiing equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable bung wheel, a rotatable work holder associated with the bufling wheel, a counterweighted arm for supporting the buiiing wheel and for normally holding the wheel away from the work holder, a table for supporting the work holder, means for latching the arm to the table in operating position andmeans for automatically releasing the latching means when the buing wheel is worn down to a certain diameter.

11. Bufng equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable bufng wheel, a rotatable work holder associated with the buing wheel, a counterweighted arm for supporting the bufing wheel and ior normally holding the wheel away from the work, a table for supporting the work and a univerl holder, a latch bar member and a cooperating latch lever member, one of said members being carried by the arm and the other supported by the table.

12. Bufng equipment according to claim 1l and having adjustable means for supporting a latch member at varying distances from the table.

13. Buffing equipment according to claim l1 in which the latch lever is carried by a support which is adjustable to various distances from the table. f

14. Buing equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable bufng wheel, a bearing' member for rotatably supporting any one of a plurality of work holders for presenting various sizes and shapes of work to the buf'ring wheel, a rotatable` member for engaging the work upon the work holder, adjustable means for supporting` said rotatable member said adjustable means providing for adjustment of said member in directions parallel to and transversely to the axis of the work holder whereby to accommodate the rotatable member to various sizes and shapes of work holders, means for clamping said rotatable member in position against the work placed upon the work holder, and means for oscillating the work holder upon rotation thereof.

15. Buing equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable bung Wheel, a bearing member for rotatably supporting any one of a plurality of work holders for presenting various sizes and shapes of work to the bufng wheel, a rotatable member for engaging the work upon the Work holder, a block carrying said rotatable member, guides for supporting the block for sliding `movement transversely to the axis of rotation of the work holder, and means for securing I the rotatable member against the work piece on 40` the work holder, said securing means being adaptable to various sizes of work holders and including provisions whereby the block may be clamped in any one of several positions along its supporting guides.

16. Bufng equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable buing Wheel, a bearing member for rotatably supporting any one .of a plurality of work holders for presenting various sizes and shapes of work to the bung wheel, a rotatable member for engaging the work upon the work holder, a block carrying said rotatable member, guides for supporting the block for sliding movement transversely to the axis of rotation of the work holder, and means for securing the rotatable member against the work piece on the work holder, said securing means being adaptable to various sizes of work holders and including a Xed member carrying a plurality of camming surfaces spaced at various distances from the work holder bearing member and including a member rotatably attached to the block and adapted to be engaged with any one of said camming surfaces.

17. Bufling equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable bunng wheel, a bearing member for rotatably supporting any one of a plurality of work holders for presenting various sizes and shapes of work to the bufng wheel, a rotatable member for engaging the work upon the work holder, a block carrying said rotatable member, guides for supporting the block for sliding movement transversely to the axis of rotation of the work holder, and means for securing the rotatable member against the work piece on the work holder, said securing means being adapted to various sizes of work holders and including la fixed rod carrying a screw thread, and said securing means including a member rotatably attached to the block and adapted to cooperate with various portions of said screw thread.

18. Bu'ing equipment comprising in combinal tion, a rotatable bufng wheel, a bearing member for rotatably supporting any one of a plurality of work holders for presenting various sizes and shapes of work to the bung Wheel, a rotatable member for engagingthe work upon the work holder, a block carrying said rotatable member, guides for supporting the block for sliding movement transversely to the axis of rotation of the work holder, and means for securing the rotatable member against the work piece on the work holder, said securing means being adaptable to various` sizes of work holders and including a fixed rod carrying a screw thread interrupted by longitudinally aligned notches', each of said thread portions providing a camming surface, and said securing means including a sleeve rotatively fixed to said block and surrounding said screw thread and having a pin adapted to cooperate with any of said screw thread portions, said pin being of such diameter as to pass thru the notches which interrupt the screw thread.

19. Bung equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable buiing wheel, a rotatable work holder associatedl with the buing wheel, a counterweighted arm for supporting the bung wheel and for normally holding the wheel away from the work, a table for supporting the Work holder, latching mechanism for holding the bufng wheel into engagement with a piece of work on the workholder so long as the diameter of the bufling wheel is above a predetermined dimension, means for adjusting the `latching means in accordance with the wear of the buiing wheels, and provisions provided on the arm and the latching mechanism to render the latching mechanism inoperative after the diameter of the buing wheel is wornl below the predetermined dimension.

20. Buing equipment comprising in combination, a rotatable buiiing wheel, a rotatable work holder associated with the buing wheel, a counterweighted arm for supporting the bung wheel and for normally holding the wheel away from the work, a table for supporting the work holder, a latch bar member and a cooperating lever member, for holding the wheel against a piece of work one ofthe members being carried by the arm and the other supported by the table, adjustable means for supporting the lever at various distances from the table, means for limiting the movement of the lever toward the table, and means operable only when the latch member is in its limited adjusted position to prevent the lever from engaging the latch bar when the wear of the builing wheel has reached the predetermined amount.

21. Buing equipment comprising in combination, a main drive shaft, a bufiing wheel pivotally supported upon the drive shaft, a holder for-a piece of work, means for normally holding the buing wheel from the work, means for holding the buiing wheel into engagement with the work when the diameter of the buing wheel is above a predetermined dimension, power means for rotating the bufng wheel and for moving the holder simultaneously, and means for rendering the holding means yinoperative after the diamL eter of the buing Wheel is Worn below the predetermined dimension.

22. Buing equipment comprising in combination, a main drive shaft, a buing wheel pivotally supported upon the drive shaft, a holder for a piece of Work, means for normally holding the buiiing Wheel from the Work, means tor holding the hurting Wheel into engagement with the Work when the diameter of the buling Wheel is above a predetermined dimension, power means for rotating the buiing Wheel and the holder simultaneously, means for oscillating the holder Whiler the piece of Work is being acted upon by the bufling Wheel, and means adapted to render the holding means inoperative when the bufng wheel is Worn below the predetermined diameter.

23. Builing equipment comprising in combination, a main drive shaft, a frame pivotally sup.- ported coaXially of the main drive shaft, a buing wheel shaft mounted upon the frame parallel to the main drive shaft and carrying a plurality of bumng Wheels, a belt for transmitting motion from the main drive shaft to the bufng wheel shaft, a Work holder associated with each bufng wheel; means for rotating each Work holder,

means for normally holding the frame in inoperative positon; means for holding the frame into operative position; means for adjustingthe holding means in accordance with the wear'of the buing Wheel, means for limiting the adjustment of the holding means; and means adapted to be engaged by the belt for tripping thegholding means when the buing Wheel is worn below a certain diameter to permit the frame to return to its inoperative position. '1.

24. In a buing machine the combination of a pivoted supporting frame; a buiiing wheel 'carried by the frame; means for normally holding the frame in an inoperative position; latch means for holding the frame into an operative position;

means for adjusting the latch positionVA in accordance with the wear of the bufllng wheel; stop means for limiting the number of adjusted positions of the latch means; and means adapted to engage the latch means in its nal adjusted position to render same inoperative when the Wear on buing Wheel reduces the diameter'qof the wheel to a predetermined dimension.

GEQRGE C. BLAKE. PERCIVAL C. SMITH. 

